Jack for automatic knitting machine



Feb. 20, 1968 R. w. SHEPARD 3,369,379

JACK FOR AUTOMATIC KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1FIG. 2

'5 G. 3 22 24 25 26 (r g 7 INVENTOR k RICHARD w. SHEPARD ATTORNEYS Feb.20, 1968 R. w. SHEPARD JACK FOR AUTOMATIC KNITTING MACHINE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1965 INVENTOR RICHARD W. SHEPARD 8 ill b[ll I lllll'll MZWFMX ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oflice 3,369,379Patented Feb. 20, 1968 3,369,379 .IAQK FUR AUTGMIATIC KNITTING MACHINERichard W. Shepard, Torrington, Conm, assignor to The Torrington(Company, Torrington, Conn., a corporation of Maine Filed May 23, 1965,Ser. No. 459,604 M Qlaims. (Cl. 66-126) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thisdisclosure relates to a jack assembly for a pattern guide, the assemblyincluding a jack having one or more guides secured thereto by a lead orother low temperature encasement forming interlocks between the jack andthe guides, with the jack being adjustably positionable on a guide barthrough the use of identifying indicia.

This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements injacks for automatic knitting machines, and more particularly to a novelreplaceable, reversible, pattern guide jack assembly.

This invention particularly relates to guide jack assemblies for raschellace machines. In the usual machine there are 18 needles per inch withthe needles spread over 100 or more inches. These needles are carried bythe needle bar. To make a basic cloth, each of these needles has a guidewhich is attached to a guide bar. Thus, in such lace machines there is aguide bar with 18 guides per inch with the guide bar being of the samelength as the needle bar. To further strengthen and stabilize thefabric, one or sometimes two more such guide bars are provided.

The fabric which could be made by the above needle and guide arrangementcould be used, but it would be very plain and of little value. To makelace, still further guides must be introduced. These guides are few innumber and occur at only specific points. The guides move in such amanner as to trace out the pattern which transforms the plain fabricinto a figured or lace fabric. There might be 30 of these pattern guidebars each containing from just a few to a hundred or more guides. All ofthese guides have holes in the tips thereof and guide the yarn aroundthe needles. Variations in the positions of the pattern guides and themotion given the pattern guide bars by the machine cause the pattern toappear in the fabric.

In order to facilitate the mounting of the guides on the guide bars, theguide bars all have screw holes, drilled and threaded, at one inch orone-half inch intervals throughout their lengths. Thus, the guide barsare divided into one inch spaces within which a cast or leaded unittraditionally has been fitted. These units, which may be consideredpattern guide jack assemblies, contain one or more of the patternguides. The deficiency of the existing pattern guide jack assembly isthat each of the one inch spaces of the machine covers one inch ofneedles or 18 needles. The particular pattern of the fabric beingknitted may call for a guide on any one or more of these 18 needles. Inthe next adjacent space the pattern of the fabric may call for a guideon some other needle in a different location of the corresponding inchof length of the guide bar. This has resulted in many different castingsbeing necessary. In any one of the inch spaces there are at least 18different guide units which might be called for.

In accordance with this invention, it is proposed to provide a patternguide jack assembly which has a jack that is narrower than the one inchwidth. It has been found that three-fourths of an inch is a feasiblelength. By providing the jack with a transversely elongated mountingopening, the jack can he slid on the mounting screw transversely a totalof one quarter of an inch so that an individual jack can cover anyportion of the one inch space.

In accordance with this invention, it has also been found that if theguide jack is provided means for mounting guides in a minimum of threealternate positions with these positions not being symmetrical withrespect to the longitudinal center of the jack, by reversing the jack, atotal of six different base guide positions can be obtained with onejack. Furthermore, by making the jack transversely adjustable on theguide bar, and by having the amount of adjustment at least equal totwice the spacing between two adjacent needles, each guide position cancover three needle positions. Thus, one specific jack, with a guideproperly positioned therein and the jack properly oriented andtransversely positioned, can be used to mount a guide in alignment withany one preselected needle in a group of 18 needles. It Will, therefore,be apparent that in accordance with this invention three pattern guidejack assemblies may be provided and there may be selected from thesethree pattern guide jack assemblies one pattern guide jack assemblywhich will permit the mounting of the single guide thereof in alignmentwith any preselected one of the needles of the 18 needles in theparticular one inch unit length.

It is also pointed out here that although a jack having three guideshank positioning slots therein will reduce the number of pattern guidejack assemblies required to a minimum, in many instances it is desiredto provide jacks having a larger number of guide receiving slots.

In accordance with this invention, it is also proposed to, removablymount the guides with respect to the jack. This is accomplished bycasting an encasement about the lower portion of the jack and the upperportion of the associated guide with the encasement being interlockedwith the jack and guide and rigidly connecting the two together. Theencasement is preferably formed of a low melting temperature metal, suchas lead, which may be readily cast. By utilizing lead, for example, thejack and the guides can be salvaged by merely melting away theencasement. However, any castable material could be used, plastics suchas nylon for instance.

It is also a further feature of this invention to provide the encasementwith suitable identifying indicia which will facilitate the selection ofthe pattern guide jack assembly which is to be used in conjunction witha preselected needle of a knitting machine.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a jack whichmay be selectively reversely positioned prior to the mounting of a guidetherein whereby in cases where there is an unusual positioning of aguide with respect to the jack, the jack may be reversed prior to thesecurement of the guide thereto, thereby doubling the possible number ofassemblies.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawing:

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view with portions broken 3 away of a patternguide jack assembly formed in accordance with this invention, theillustrated pattern guide jack assembly including a jack having fourguide receiving positions and having mounted therein two guides.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE1 with an intermediate portion of the guide being broken away and showsthe specific details of the interlock between the jack and the guidewith respect to the encasement.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 3-3 ofFIGURE 1 and shows the specific cross section of the lower portion ofthe jack and the relationship of the guides with respect thereto.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic elevational view with parts broken away andshows the manner in which an encasement is molded about a jack and anassociated guide after the guide has been positioned relative to thejack.

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of a pattern guide jack assembly whereinthe jack is of the three-guide position type.

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view taken through a guide bar andshows the manner in which a pattern guide jack assembly is mounted onOne face thereof.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 and shows the manner in which apattern guide jack assembly is mounted in the reverse position on theguide bar.

FIGURES 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 are schematic views showing the mannerin which one guide and one jack formed in accordance with this inventionmay be selectively assembled and positioned so that the guide may bealigned with any one of 18 associated needles.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, a pattern guide jack assembly whichis formed in accordance with this invention, the jack assembly beinggenerally referred to by the numeral 15. The jack assembly 15 basicallyincludes a jack, which is generally referred to by the numeral 16, andone or more guides with there being two guides 17 and 18 illustrated,and an encasement 19 rigidly securing the guides 17 and 18 to the jack16 in extending relation thereto.

The jack 16 includes an upper mounting portion 20 and a lower guidereceiving portion 21. The lower guide receiving portion 21 is of anotched construction so as to define slots 22, 23, 24 and 25 with theslot 25 being disposed along one edge of the jack 16. It is also to benoted that the lower portion of the jack 16 is notched along theopposite edge, as at 26. Although the slots 22, 23, 24 and 25 areequally spaced with respect to one another, it is to be noted that theyare not centered with respect to the side edges of the jack 16. Thus,the jack 16 is not symmetrical about the longitudinal center thereof.

Each of the guides 17 and 18 includes an upper shank portion 27 and alower flattened portion 28 which gradually decreases in thickness andterminates in a rounded lower end portion 29. The rounded lower endportion 29 has an opening 30 therethrough in the form of an eye throughwhich yarn is guided. Also, it is to be noted that the upper shankportion 27 is provided adjacent the upper end thereof with alongitudinally extending notch 31.

The lower guide receiving portion 21 of the jack 16 has the outersurface thereof recessed on opposite sides as at 32. The recessing ofthe outer surface or face of the lower portion of the jack 16 results inthe formation of outwardly projecting ribs 32, there being one rib 32 oneach face or side of the jack 16.

It is to be understood that in the formation of the jack assembly 15,one or more guides 17, 18 is positioned in a selected one or ones of theslot. Then, while the jack 16 and the guide or guides are held in asuitable jig, the encasement 19 is formed by a molding process. Theencasement 19 is preferably, but not necessarily, formed of a lowmelting temperature metal, such as lead.

4 Due to the specific configurations of the lower portion of the jack 16and the upper portion of the shanks 27, it will be readily apparent thatthere is a full and sufficient mechanical interlock between the jack 16and the guides with respect to the encasement 19.

Referring now to FIGURE 4 in particular, it will be seen that there isschematically illustrated the jig which is utilized for the purpose ofapplying the encasement 19 to the jack and the guide or guides. InFIGURE 4, the jack 16 is illustrated in .a fixed position maintained bymeans of a locating pin 33. A single guide, which may be considered tobe the guide 17, is positioned with respect to the jack 16 by means of alocating pin 34. The overlapped portions of the jack 16 and the guide 17are clamped within a two part mold, which is generally referred to bythe numeral 35. The mold 35 has a cavity 36 or the outline of theencasement 19. The mold 35 has a funnel shaped pour opening 37.

Referring once again to FIGURE 1 in particular, it will be seen that theupper mounting portion 20 of the jack 16 is provided with an elongatedfastener receiving opening 38. The shape of the opening 38 permits thetransverse shifting of the jack assembly 15 to assure the properpositioning of the guides 17, 18, with needles of a knitting machinewhen the jack assembly 15 is mounted on a guide bar.

At this time it is pointed out that the encasement 19, when it ismolded, is provided with indicia 39. This indicia includes X and Omarkings which are applied to the encasement 19 in alignment with theslots 22, 23, 24- and 25. Where there is a guide, the indicia is in theform of X and where there is no guide, the indicia is in the form of '0.Thus, the jack assembly 15 may be readily identified.

Referring now to FIGURE 5 in particular, it will be seen that there isillustrated another form of jack assembly which is generally referred toby the numeral 40. The jack assembly 40, like the jack assembly 15,includes a jack, which is generally referred to by the numeral 41, aguide, which is generally referred to by the numeral 42, and anencasement, which is generally referred to by the numeral 43, theencasement 43 securing the guide 42 to the jack 41.

The jack 41 includes an upper mounting portion 44 and a lower guidereceiving portion 45. The lower guide receiving portion 45 has formedtherein slots 46, 47 and 48 for receiving upper shank portions ofguides, such as the guide 42. It is to be noted that the slot 48 isformed so as to open through a side edge of the jack 41. It is also tobe noted that the slots 46, 47 and 48 are equally spaced, but aredisposed out of symmetry.

In addition, the edge of the jack 41 remote from the slot 48 is notchedas at 49.

The guide receiving lower portion 45 of the jack 41 is configurated inthe same manner as is the guide receiving lower portion 21 of the jack16 so as to provide for a mechanical interlock with the encasement 43.The guide '42 is formed in the same manner as are the guides 17 and 18so as to provide for a mechanical interlock between the guide 42 and theencasement 43. It is to be understood that the encasement 43 ispreferably, but not necessarily, formed of a low melting temperaturemetal, such as lead, and is applied in the manner shown in FIGURE 4.

The upper mounting portion 44 of the jack 41 is provided with atransversely elongated fastener receiving opening 50. The opening 50 istransversely elongated so as to permit the transverse shifting andadjustment of the jack assembly 40.

Referring now to FIGURE 6 in particular, it will be seen that there isschematically illustrated in cross section a pattern guide bar of aknitting machine, the guide bar being generally referred to by thenumeral 51. The guide bar 51 is illustrated as having been notched alongthe opposite faces thereof to provide recesses 52. A jack u) assembly 40is illustrated as seated in the right hand recess 52 and being securedthereto by means of a fastener 53. The fastener 53 passes through theopening 50 in the jack 41 and is threaded into the guide bar 51.

Referring now to the schematic representation of FIG- URE 8, it will beseen that there is illustrated a needle bar 54 having a plurality ofneedles 56 projecting therefrom. The needles 56 are so spaced wherebythere are 18 needles to an inch. Only one inch of the needles have beenschematically illustrated. Also schematically illustrated is the jackassembly 40. 'It is to be noted that the jack 41 is narrower than theone inch space occupied by the 18 needles 56, the jack 41 preferablyhaving a width of 4 inch. When the jack 41 is centered on the associatedfastener 53, and the jack assembly 40 is of the X type, the guide 42thereof is generally aligned with needle number 6. As is clearly shownby dotted lines, the jack assembly 40 can be selectively shifted to theleft to selectively align the guide 42 with either the needle number 5or the needle number 4.

With reference to FIGURE 9 in particular, it will be seen that there isillustrated the same needle bar and guide jack assembly shown in FIGURE8, but wherein the jack assembly 40 has been rotated 180 degrees aboutits longitudinal axis so that the guide 42 is now on the right side ofthe center as opposed to the left side. The jack will now be in theposition shown in FIGURE 7. When the jack 41 is centered on the fastener43, the guide 42 is generally aligned with needle number 13. By shiftingthe jack 41 to the right, the guide 42 can be aligned with either needlenumber 14 or needle number 15.

Referring now to FIGURE in particular, it will be seen that there isillustrated a schematic representation similar to FIGURES 8 and 9 butwherein there is illustrated a modified form of jack assembly which isgenerally referred to by the numeral 57. The jack assembly 57 differsfrom the jack assembly 40 only in that the guide 42, in lieu of beingseated in the slot 46, is seated in the slot 47. Thus, when the jack 41is in its centered position, the guide 42 is aligned with needle number11. By shifting the jack 41 to the left, the guide may be aligned withneedle number It and by shifting the jack to the right, the guide 42 maybe aligned with the needles number 12. It is to be noted that the jackassembly 57 may be considered an OX0 jack assembly.

Considering now FIGURE 11, it will be seen that it is similar to FIGURE10 and again shows the jack assembly 57. However, the jack assembly 57has been rotated 180 degrees about its longitudinal axis from itsposition of FIGURE 10. The guide 42 is now aligned with needle number 8.By shifting the jack 41 to the left the guide may be aligned with needlenumber 7, and by shifting the jack to the right, the guide may bealigned with the needle number 9.

In FIGURE 12 there is illustrated still another modified form of thejack assembly 40, this jack assembly being generally referred to by thenumeral 58 and being of the 00X type. When the jack 41 of the jackassembly 58 is in its centered position, the guide 42 thereof isgenerally aligned with needle number 16. By shifting the jack 41 to theright, the guide may be selectively aligned with needle numbers 17 and18.

In FIGURE 13 there is shown the jack assembly 58 rotated about itslongitudinal axis 180 degrees. When the jack 41 is centered on thefastener 53, the guide 42 is generally aligned with needle number 3. Byshifting the jack 41 to the right, the guide 42 may be selectivelyaligned with needle number 2 or needle number 1.

It is pointed out that although the jack 41 of the several jackassemblies 40, 57 and 58 is shifted in order to align the guide 42 withselected ones of the needles, at no time is the jack 41 shiftedsufficiently to move out of the specific one inch area of the associatedguide bar 51. Thus, for example, a guide may be provided for needlenumber 18 of one group needles and another guide of another jackassembly provided for needle number 1 of the next adjacent group ofneedles to the right. It will also be readily apparent that only threedifferent jack assemblies are required to provide a guide which isselectively alignable with any one of the 18 needles of a particulargroup.

It is also pointed out here that the jack assembly generally disclosedin this application is particularly advantageous where there is to be aspecial relationship be tween the guide and the jack. Assuming forexample that it is desired to provide an XOO type jack assembly whereinthe guide has a specific relationship with respect to the jack, and itis desired that the jack be in its reversed position, such as they areshown generally in FIGURE 9, it will be seen that this can beaccomplished by reversing the jack prior to assembling the guidetherewith. In other Words, the jack may be reversed in its positionprior to the assembling of the guide with the jack.

A further advantage of the jack assembly of this application is thatsince the encasement material is in the .form of a low meltingtemperature metal, such as lead and therefore relatively removable ascompared to the jack and the guides, both the jack and the guide orguides associated therewith can be salvaged. Also, in the event theguide should break, it is not necessary to throw away the jack.

Although numerous advantages of the jack assembly of this invention havebeen specifically set forth herein, it is to be understood that otheradvantages will become apparent during the utilization of the jackassemblies.

Although only preferred embodiments of the invention have beenspecifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understoodthat other modifications may be made in the jack assembly withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A pattern guide jack assembly comprising a jack having an uppermounting portion and a lower guide receiving portion, said lower guidereceiving portion being longitudinally slotted to define a plurality oftransversely spaced guide receiving slots opening through a lower edgeof said jack for selectively receiving upper shank portions of guides,at least one guide, said guide having an upper shank portion selectivelyseated within one of said slots, and a molded encasement encircling saidlower guide receiving portion and forming a rigid interlock between saidguide and said jack.

2. A pattern guide jack assembly comprising a jack having an uppermounting portion and a lower guide receiving portion, said lower guidereceiving: portion being longitudinally slotted to define a plurality oftransversely spaced guide receiving slots opening through a lower edgeof said jack for selectively receiving upper shank portions of guides,at least one gudie, said guide having an upper shank portion selectivelyseated within one of said slots, and a molded encasement encircling saidlower guide receiving portion and forming a rigid interlock between saidguide and said jack, said jack upper mounting portion having atransversely elongated fastener receiving slot of a length permittingthe transverse shifting of said jack relative to a fastener a distancein each transverse direction at least equal to the distance betweenadjacent slots.

3. A pattern guide jack assembly comprising a jack having an uppermounting portion and a lower guide receiving portion, said lower guidereceiving portion being longitudinally slotted to define a plurality oftransversely spaced guide receiving slots opening through a lower edgeof said jack for selectively receiving upper shank portions of guides,at least one guide, at least one of said slots being disposed along onelongitudinal edge of said jack, said guide having an upper shank portionselectively seated within one of said slots, and a molded encasementencircling said lower guide receiving portion and forming a rigidinterlock between said guide and said jack.

4, A pattern guide jack assembly comprising a jack having an uppermounting portion and a lower guide receiving portion, said lower guidereceiving portion being longitudinally slotted to define a plurality oftransversely spaced guide receiving slots opening through a lower edgeof said jack for selectively receiving upper shank portions of guides,at least one guide, at least one of said slots being disposed along onelongitudinal edge of said jack, said guide having an upper shank portionselectively seated within one of said slots, and a molded encasementencircling said lower guide receiving portion and forming a rigidinterlock between said guide and said jack, said jack upper mountingportion having a transversely elongated fastener receiving slot of alength permitting the transverse shifting of said jack relative to afastener a distance in each transverse direction at least equal to thedistance between adjacent slots.

5. A pattern guide jack assembly comprising a. jack having an uppermounting portion and a lower guide receiving portion, said lower guidereceiving portion being longitudinally slotted to define a plurality oftransversely spaced guide receiving slots opening through a lower edgeof said jack for selectively receiving upper shank portions of guides,at least one guide, said guide having an upper shank portion selectivelyseated within one of said slots, and a molded encasement encircling saidlower guide receiving portion and forming a rigid interlock between saidguide and said jack, said pattern guide jack assembly Ibeing symmetricalabout a center plane having longitudinal and transverse dimensionswhereby said pattern guide jack assembly may be reversibly positioned.

6. A pattern guide jack assembly comprising a, jack having an uppermounting portion and a lower guide receiving portion, said lower guidereceiving portion being longitudinally slotted to define a plurality oftransversely spaced guide receiving slots opening through a lower edgeof said jack for selectively receiving upper shank portions of guides,at least one guide, said guide having an upper shank portion selectivelyseated within one of said slots, and a molded encasement encircling saidlower guide receiving portion and forming a rigid interlock between saidguide and said jack, and indicia means on said encasement foridentifying guide location on said jacks assembly.

7. A pattern guide jack assembly comprising a jack having an uppermounting portion and a lower guide receiving portion, said lower guidereceiving portion being longitudinally slotted to define a plurality oftransversely spaced guide receiving slOts opening through a lower edgeof said jack for selectively receiving upper shank portions of guides,at least one guide, said guide having an upper shank portion selectivelyseated within one of said slots, and an encasement encircling said lowerguide receiving portion and forming a rigid interlock between said guideand said jack, said encasement being formed of a low melting temperaturemetal.

8. A pattern guide jack assembly comprising a jack having an uppermounting portion and a lower guide receiving portion, said lower guidereceiving portion being longitudinally slotted to define a plurality oftransversely spaced guide receiving slots opening through a lower edgeof said jack for selectively receiving upper shank portions of guides,at least one guide, said guide having an upper shank portion selectivelyseated within one of said slots, and a molded encasement encircling saidlower guide receiving portion and forming a rigid interlock between saidguide and said jack, said jack upper mounting portion having atransversely elongated fastener receiving slot of a length permittingthe transverse shifting of said jack relative to a fastener a distancein each transverse direction at least equal to the distance betweenadjacent slots, said pattern guide jack assembly being symmetrical abouta center plane having longitudinal and transverse dimensions wherebysaid pattern guide jack assembly may be reversibly positioned.

9. A pattern guide jack assembly comprising a jack having an uppermounting portion and a lower guide receiving portion, said lower guidereceiving portion being longitudinally slotted to define a plurality oftransversely spaced guide receiving slots opening through a lower edgeof said jack for selectively receiving upper shank portions of guides,at least one guide, said guide having an upper shank portion selectivelyseated within one of said slots, and a molded encasement encircling saidlower guide receiving portion and forming a rigid interlock between saidguide and said jack, said jack upper mounting portion having atransversely elongated fastener receiving slot of a length permittingthe transverse shifting of said jack relative to a fastener a distancein each transverse direction at least equal to the distance betweenadjacent slots, said jack being nonsymmetrical about a longitudinalaxis.

10. A pattern guide jack assembly particularly adapted for use in aknitting machine for guiding a thread relative to needles of themachine, wherein the knitting machine is of the type having apredetermined number of needles per unit length, said pattern guide jackassembly comprising a jack having an upper mounting portion and a lowerguide receiving portion, said jack being of a length less than said unitlength, said lower guide receiving portion having a plurality of slotsfor selectively receiving a guide shank, said jack being generally flatand symmetrical about the general plane thereof, said slots beingarranged on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis in nonsymmetricalrelation, and a transversely elongated mounting fastener receivingopening in said mounting portion, the relative positions of said slotsand the proportions of said opening being such that a guide may beselectively positioned in said slots and said jack selectivelypositioned along said unit length in alignment with any preselected oneof the needles, and a guide having a shank fixedly mounted in a selectedone of said slots.

11. A pattern guide jack assembly particularly adapted for use in aknitting machine for guiding a thread relative to needles of themachine, wherein the knitting machine is of the type having apredetermined number of needles per unit length, said pattern guide jackassembly comprising a jack having an upper mounting portion and a lowerguide receiving portion, said jack being of a length less than said unitlength, said lower guide receiving portion having a plurality of slotsfor selectively receiving a guide shank, said jack being generally fiatand symmetrical about the general plane thereof, said slots beingarranged on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis in non-symmetricalrelation, and a transversely elongated mounting fastener receivingopening in said mounting portion, the relative positions of said slotsbeing such that in a first position of said jack each slot is positionedfor placing a guide in alignment with one needle of a set of needles ofa first group of sets of needles and when said jack is reverselypositioned each slot is positioned for placing a guide in alignment withone needle of a set of needles of a second group of the needles, thefirst and second groups of needles forming all of the needles withinsaid unit length, and the proportions of said opening allowing thetransverse shifting of said jack within said unit length to align aguide with any selected needle of a predetermined set, and guide havinga shank fixedly mounted in a selected one of said slots.

12. The jack assembly of claim 11 wherein said guide is secured in placerelative to said jack by means of a meltable material encasement wherebysaid guide and said jack may be readily assembled and separated withsaid guide and said jack being separately replaceable.

13. The jack assembly of claim 11 wherein said guide is secured in placerelative to said jack by means of a meltable material encasement wherebysaid guide and said jack may be readily assembled and separated withsaid guide and said jack being separately replaceable, said guide andsaid jack having separate projection and socket type mechanicalinterlocks with said encasement.

14. The jack assembly of claim 11 wherein said guide is secured in placerelative to said jack by means of a meltable material encasement wherebysaid guide and said jack may be readily assembled and separated withsaid guide and said jack being separately replaceable, said encasementhaving identifying indicia indicating the sets of needles for Which thejack assembly is intended.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

10 R. FELDBAUM, Assistant Examiner.

